Gov supports cutdown on casuals to hire disaster staff

CEBU, Philippines -  Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III is amenable to the idea of trimming down the number of casual employees in the different localities in the province to accommodate Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers and staff.

“Well if it can be done. Maayo pud tingale basta di lang ma-sacrifice ang services diha sa municipal government,” he said.

He also suggested that local chief executives appoint an existing regular officer who can act as the DRRM officer at the same time.

Davide said the province would have to determine whether or not it can help fund the LGUs upon the creation of positions for DRRM officer and its staff.

The law provides four mandatory positions that compose the LDRRMO. They are the DRRM officer who will be assisted by three staff responsible for administration and training, research and planning, and operations and warning.

Some mayors aired concern as regards to maintaining the operation of DRRM office and that hiring of DRRM staff might exceed the personal services limitation set by the law.

Under the Local Government Code, cited by DBM Jose Salvador, it states that LGU would have to follow the limitation in the computation of  the personal services where first to  third class LGUs should not exceed to 45  percent while fourth to sixth class should not exceed to 55 percent.

However, the Department of Budget had addressed the concern. Under the Joint Memorandum Circular of DBM, Department of Interior and Local Government, National DRRMC and Civil Service Commission, the enforcement of the budgetary limitations under the Local Government Code will be waived so as to enable the LGUs to fund the initial year requirements for the creation of the minimum four mandatory positions under LDRRMO.   (FREEMAN)